The casino resort project in the Incheon Free Economic Zone failed to extend the opening deadline for the first phase by 12 months. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism confirmed this information to the GGRA.

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RFKR, which is pushing for a foreign-only casino scheme in Incheon, is a company linked to Hong Kong-listed Chinese developer Guangzhou R&F Properties Limited and has applied to extend the opening date of the property on Dec. 29. But the ministry told GRSA on Tuesday morning in response to a follow-up investigation: "RFKR's casino business license has been officially invalidated."

The ministry declined to comment further, other than clarifying that RFKR's side would appeal the decision for 90 days. GGRAsia has approached RFKR for comment on the ministry's statement.

The most recent extension of the deadline was announced on March 17, 2023, marking the fourth revision to the site's launch schedule since 2018, when Legacy Caesars Entertainment Corp. was the casino partner of the scheme. In early 2021, a casino brand acquired by Eldorado Resorts, a U.S. local casino operator, was found to have sold off its investment in Korea.

At the time of the fourth deadline change, RFKR had promised to resume construction by July 2023, but that milestone was missed. According to the Incheon Free Economic Zone Authority (IFEZA), the public body overseeing the area, about 25% of RFKR's plans have been developed, although construction has been suspended since 2020.

The previous RFKR plan is located on Yeongjong Island, near Incheon International Airport, Yeongjong Island's main airport.

The site is close to Mohegan Inspire Entertainment Resort, another foreigner-only casino complex operated by the U.S.-based Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, and trades as Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment. The latter launched the casino in early February after its launch for non-gaming in late November. It had an official launch ceremony on March 5.

In Incheon, there is also Paradise City, a foreigner-only casino complex formed by Korea's Paradise, which was launched in 2017, and Japan's Sega Sammy Holdings.